Automatic drain device



AUTOMATIC DRAIN DEVICE Filed Feb. l0, 1939 9 z4 JZ IN V EN TORIS'.

A TT ORNE YS.

, Patented Sept. 17, 1940 PATENT OFFICE 2,214,844 AUTOMATICI DRAINDEVICE Herbert Van Keuren and Archibald C. Wilkins, Kingstree, S. C.

Application February 1o, 1939, sena1N0.255,73s

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an automatic drain device, designed primarilyfor use in the cooling systems of internal combustion engines, theprimary object of the invention being to provide 5 thermostaticallycontrolled means for automatically releasing the water of the systemwhen the temperature of the water of the systems approaches the freezingpoint or reaches a dangerously low degree.

10 An important object of the invention is to provide a device of thischaracter which may be adjusted to operate when the water reaches apredetermined temperature, means being also provided for holding thedischarge or drain opening of the device closed, should it be desired touse an anti-freeze solution in the cooling systems.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as thedescription proceeds,. the invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein described, may be made within thescope of what is claimed. without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is an elevational View of a device constructed in accordancewith the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the device.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the device comprises a body portionindicated generally by the reference character 5, and while the bodyportion in the present showing is restangular in formation, it is to beunderstood that the general construction of the body portion may bechanged 40 to meet various requirements, without departing from thespirit of the invention.

The reference character 6 designates a pipe that extends into the top ofthe body portion, at a point intermediate the ends thereof, while 45 thenumeral 'I designates a pipe that extends into one end of the bodyportion. In connecting the device in the cooling system of an internalcombustion engine, either of the pipes 6 or 'I may be connected with thecooling system, the other pipe or opening being closed. Should it be'desired, both pipes may be connected with the cooling system to allow .acirculation of water through the body portion.

Formed in the bottom of the body portion is an outlet or drain opening4Il which is provided (Cl. IS7-34.3)

With a valve seat 9 at the upper end of the opening, to be engaged bythe valve disk I0, which normally holds the opening 8 closed.

One Wall of the body portion 5 is provided with a threaded opening inwhich the arm I I is positioned, the arm being formed with a threadedextension to screw through the said threaded opening Where itaccommodates the nut I2, holding the arm in position. This arm I Iprovides a support for the coil I3 which is constructed of bimetalcommonly used in the construction of thermostats, and as shown, thiscoil I3 is provided with an extension I4 that extends to a positiondirectly over the outlet or drain opening 8, where it is provided withan opening for the reception of the bolt I5 which is secured thereto, bymeans of the nuts I 'I positioned on the threaded end of the threadedybolt I5. This bolt also extends through the valve disk I0, and throughthe metallic disk I 8 that backs up the valve disk I insuring a closecontact of the valve disk Ill and its seat, to cut off the flow of waterthrough the opening 8. A nut indicated at I9 is mounted on the bolt I 5,and bears against the lower surface of the valve disk I0.

This bolt I is of a length to extend an appreciable distance below thedischarge end of the opening 8, where it is formed with a right angledend 20 on which the latch 2I is pivotally mounted. This latch 2I issubstantially triangular in formation, the wide surface or end 22thereof being designed to contact with the body portion 5 at a pointadjacent to the outlet opening 8, when the latch member is moved to thedotted line position shown by Figure 2 of the drawing, thereby holdingthe valve I0 to its seat at all times, against the action of thethermostat or coil I3.

Secured to the inner end of the arm I I, is a lever 25, which has a wideend 26 disposed adjacent to the screw 2l, that screws into a threadedopening in the inner end of the bolt 23, the head oi the screw adaptedto engage the lever, securing the lever in various positions ofadjustment. Thus it will be seen that by moving the lever 25,

the thermostat may be adjusted, regulating the operation of the valve.

From the foregoing it will be seen that due to the construction shownand described, we have provided an automatically controlled device forpositioning in the pipe-line or drain of the usual cooling system of aninternal combustion engine, and that because of the construction, thewater in the body portion will control the action of the thermostat.When the water in the system cools to a degree approaching the freezingpoint, the thermostat will be caused to move, opening the valve l0,whereupon the water of the cooling system will drain into the bodyportion 5, through pipes 6 or 1, from where the water will pass throughthe Idrain opening 8 clearing the system of cooling water.

A cover plate indicated by the reference character 23 is removably heldon the body portion 5, by means of the screws 24, to the end that readyaccess may be had to the interior of the body portion to repair oradjust the elements thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. A device for controlling the cooling liquid of an internal combustionengine, comprising a body portion, pipes connected with the body portionand adapted to be connected in the cooling system whereby cooling liquidof the system flows into said body portion, said body having a drainopening in the bottom thereof, a valve normally closing the drainopening, a thermostat comprisinga member sensitive to heat and coldmounted in the body portion, a bolt connecting the Valve to saidthermostat, said bolt extending through said drain opening, and a latchon said bolt and adapted to engage the body portion vto hold the valveclosed against the action of the thermostat. 2. A device forcontro-lling the cooling liquid of an internal combustion engine,comprising a body portion, pipes connected with the body portion andadapted to be connected in the cooling system whereby cooling liquid ofthe system flows into said body portion, said body portion having fopening, the lower end of the rod terminatingan appreciable distancebelow the drain opening, a pivoted member mounted on the lower end ofthe rod and adapted to swing upwardly to engage the body portion andrestrict upward movement of the valve, a thermostat mounted within thebody portion, lone end of the thermostat being connected with the valve,and said thermostat adapted to operate to open the valve when the latchmember is moved to disengage the body portion.

HERBERT VAN KEUREN..

ARCHIBALD C. WILKINS.

